never showed up

USAGE SUMMARY

"never showed up" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone was absent or didn't appear, for example: My friend said he was going to come to my party, but he never showed up.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

(They never showed up).

The New York Times

But Etan never showed up at school".

The New York Times

She never showed up at the school.

The New Yorker

He never showed up, they said.

The New York Times

McG never showed up for the flight.

The New York Times

But they never showed up, he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

19 human-written examples

It would never show up".

The New Yorker

He never shows up an opponent.

The New York Times - Sports

"They never show up or call".

The New York Times - Tech

Some talents just never show up on one's résumé.

The New York Times

The real Iron Fist never shows up in Season 1.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never showed up" to clearly indicate a person's absence when their presence was expected. It's suitable for both informal and neutral contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "never showed up" when you mean someone was late. "Never showed up" implies complete absence, not tardiness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never showed up" functions as a verb phrase indicating the absence of someone or something at an expected place or event. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never showed up" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that someone did not attend or appear as expected. According to Ludwig, it's used in various contexts, from news reports to casual conversations. While generally neutral, it conveys a clear message of absence. Alternatives like "did not appear" or "failed to arrive" can be used for more formal tones. Remember that "never showed up" indicates complete absence, not just lateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remained a no-show

Highlights the failure to appear after being expected.

was a no-show

Slightly less formal version of remained a no-show

did not turn up

British English equivalent; similar in meaning and informality.

did not appear

Uses more formal vocabulary; avoids the phrasal verb.

failed to arrive

Emphasizes the expectation of arrival; slightly more formal.

was not present

A more formal and neutral way to say someone was not there.

was absent

Focuses on the state of being away; more general in meaning.

missed the appointment

Specifically refers to missing a scheduled meeting or engagement.

didn't make it

A more casual way to express non-attendance, could be due to many factors.

never materialized

More figurative; suggests the expected event or person didn't become real.

FAQs

What does "never showed up" mean?

The phrase "never showed up" means that someone was expected to be at a certain place or event, but they did not attend or appear.

What can I say instead of "never showed up"?

You can use alternatives like "did not appear", "failed to arrive", or "was absent" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "never showed up"?

Yes, "never showed up" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in English to indicate someone's absence.

What's the difference between "never showed up" and "was a no-show"?

Both phrases mean someone didn't attend, but "was a no-show" is slightly more emphatic and focuses on the disappointment or consequence of the absence. "Never showed up" is a more neutral statement of fact.